Explore the benefits of pursuing an IT degree with certifications and determine which tech credentials align with your education and career goals.

The debate over formal education versus IT certifications has been raging for decades. One compelling solution to this conundrum is earning an IT degree that includes industry-recognized certifications. This rapidly popularizing approach offers the best of both worlds, blending the deep theoretical knowledge of a college education with the contemporary real-world skills of IT certification.

In this post, I will outline the benefits of pursuing an information technology degree with certifications and highlight which IT credentials you should look for in an accredited degree program.

With our increasing reliance on smartphones, wearables, and other mobile technologies, the appetite for innovative apps is skyrocketing. This surge has catapulted mobile development to the forefront of in-demand skills. If you’re wondering how to break into this exciting and lucrative field, this guide will outline how you can become a mobile application developer.

Trying to determine your ideal IT career path? Want to know which computer jobs will be in the greatest demand, offer the highest salaries, and best opportunities for advancement once you finish training? ITCareerFinder assembled this comparison of the decade’s hottest technology careers to serve as your guide. These 10 computer jobs will experience the fastest growth, pay salaries well above the national average, boast top employment rates, and offer a range of opportunities for promotion.

Compare the best computer jobs by employment projections, key growth factors, salary, and more, then click the links of your favorite IT career paths for deep-dive profiles featuring skills and responsibilities, desirable certifications, wage analyses, education requirements, training & degree programs, local job openings, and tips from IT insiders.

The methodology to discover the best computer jobs for the future centers around a four-point weighted analysis of employment forecasts from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, IT salaries and the ratio of job listings to qualified applicants on leading job boards, and potential for upward mobility based on interviews with technology and employment experts, as well as recent IT hiring trends.

Discover the 10 best computer jobs for the future:

1. IT Security Specialist

   

   IT Security Specialist Employment Projections | 2022 - 2032

   • 10-Year Growth Pct: 32% (much faster than average)†
   • 10-Year Growth Volume: 53,200 new jobs
   • Average Salary: $112,000
   • IT Security Specialist Career Path ››
   Key Growth Factors

   Security will remain a top concern for IT executives and hiring managers as the frequency, scope, and complexity of cyber attacks continue to escalate. Year after year, IT executives report actively seeking professionals with information security skills but finding it difficult to locate good talent. This indicates an incredible opportunity for technology professionals to advance their cybersecurity skills and certifications. Computer security skills in the greatest demand include IT operations security, secure web and mobile application development, risk management, information assurance, network security, and cloud security.

2. Mobile Application Developer

   

   Mobile App Developer Employment Projections | 2022 - 2032

   • 10-Year Growth Pct: 26% (much faster than avg.)†
   • 10-Year Growth Volume: 410,400 new jobs
   • Average Salary: $127,000
   • Mobile App Developer Career Path ››
   Key Growth Factors

   Mobile application development is one of the world's fastest-growing occupations. As smartphones and tablets continue to change the way we communicate, do business, and access news & entertainment, the demand for new and innovative mobile apps is growing at an incredible speed. This increased demand translates to one of the largest IT skills gaps ever realized – there are simply more mobile application development job openings than skilled developers to fill them. Google's Android and Apple's iOS (iPhone, iPad & Apple Watch) platforms will continue to offer the most career opportunities for mobile developers, as these 2 platforms combine for over 99% of the mobile OS market share in the US.

3. Software Engineer

   

   Software Engineer Employment Projections | 2022 - 2032

   • 10-Year Growth Pct: 25% (much faster than avg.)†
   • 10-Year Growth Volume: 451,200 new jobs
   • Average Salary: $124,000
   • Software Engineer Career Path ››
   Key Growth Factors

   Workforce demand for software engineers will rise along with technological advancement and the growing ubiquity of software. For example, the rapid adoption of cloud technologies is driving demand for applications software engineers who can build secure and scalable cloud programs. Likewise, as the proliferation of computer systems continues and software spreads into new industries and smart devices, the need to develop the computer systems that power these initiatives will create jobs for systems software engineers.

4. Video Game Designer

   

   Video Game Designer Employment Projections | 2022 - 2032

   • 10-Year Growth Pct: 16% (much faster than avg.)†
   • 10-Year Growth Volume: 34,700 new jobs
   • Average Salary: $81,000
   • Video Game Designer Career Path ››
   Key Growth Factors

   The $140+ billion dollar gaming industry has more than tripled in size over the last decade. Beyond the booming market for PC and console games, the increased popularity, processing power, and graphics capabilities of mobile devices have unlocked a new world of job opportunities for video game designers, artists, and programmers. Game designers with mobile development expertise will be especially sought after as smartphones and tablets continue to change how video games are played. Game designer employment will also benefit from emerging technologies and rising demand for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) applications.

5. Computer Systems Analyst

   

   Computer Systems Analyst Employment Projections | 2022 - 2032

   • 10-Year Growth Pct: 10% (much faster than avg.)†
   • 10-Year Growth Volume: 51,100 new jobs
   • Average Salary: $102,000
   • Computer Systems Analyst Career Path ››
   Key Growth Factors

   As organizations continue to increase their reliance on technology, computer systems analysts will be needed to increase the efficiency of existing technologies and architect new systems. Health care is a key industry for systems analyst job growth, as aggressive government mandates and funding initiatives continue to drive increases in electronic medical record (EMR) adoption, electronic prescription services, and other health-centric software projects. The U.S. Department of Labor also predicts a 43% increase in systems analyst hiring at IT consulting firms, which translates to a huge amount of freelance and contract employment opportunities in this job role.

6. Web Developer

   

   Web Developer Employment Projections | 2022 - 2032

   • 10-Year Growth Pct: 17% (much faster than avg.)†
   • 10-Year Growth Volume: 16,700 new jobs
   • Average Salary: $79,000
   • Web Developer Career Path ››
   Key Growth Factors

   Each year, a record number of businesses bring their offerings to the Internet. As the number of products and services online continues to grow, web developers and designers will enjoy increased job opportunities. The proliferation of social networks will boost demand for web developers as businesses look to engage a new generation of customers and spur a competitive advantage in this rapidly growing space. Responsive web design, user interface (UI), and user experience (UX) skills are a hot commodity in this position as displays must increasingly adapt to varying device sizes and types, e.g., smartwatches.

7. Health Information Technician

   

   Health Information Technician Employment Proj. | 2022 - 2032

   • 10-Year Growth Pct: 16% (much faster than avg.)†
   • 10-Year Growth Volume: 6,200 new jobs
   • Average Salary: $58,000
   • Health Information Technician Career Path ››
   Key Growth Factors

   Health care will produce more new computer jobs through 2025 than any other single industry. Aggressive government mandates and funding incentives for medical practices to adopt centralized electronic health records are driving unprecedented hiring of health information technicians trained and certified in these new technologies. Health information technicians may earn the lowest starting salary on this list, but the required education is the quickest (typically a 2-year degree program in Health IT). Candidates learning now will be well-positioned for lucrative management positions as the health IT job market continues to mature.

8. Technology Manager

   

   Technology Manager Employment Projections | 2022 - 2032

   • 10-Year Growth Pct: 15% (much faster than avg.)†
   • 10-Year Growth Volume: 86,000 new jobs
   • Average Salary: $164,000
   • Technology Manager Career Path ››
   Key Growth Factors

   Job growth for information technology managers is directly tied to the growth rates of the IT workers they supervise. Record-breaking growth in a variety of technical jobs – including software development, project management, data analytics, and cloud computing – will continue through 2025 and beyond, in turn fueling strong demand for talented IT managers. Additional growth will be driven by an increased focus on information security and the hiring of additional cybersecurity personnel.

9. Database Administrator

   

   Database Administrator Employment Projections | 2022 - 2032

   • 10-Year Growth Pct: 7% (faster than average)†
   • 10-Year Growth Volume: 6,000 new jobs
   • Average Salary: $112,000
   • DBA Career Path ››
   Key Growth Factors

   Businesses are racking up impressive amounts of digital information, spurring the need for trained and certified DBAs to store, organize, analyze, and secure this data. In addition, as more databases are connected to the Internet and cloud, data security will become increasingly vital and complex; database administrators and developers - especially those with information security skills - will be hired to protect corporate data from hackers and other cyber threat vectors.

10. Network Administrator

    

    Network Administrator Employment Projections | 2022 - 2032

    • 10-Year Growth Pct: 2% (about as fast as avg.)†
    • 10-Year Growth Volume: 8,300 new jobs
    • Average Salary: $91,000
    • Network Administrator Career Path ››
    Key Growth Factors

    Demand for network administrators will rise as organizations invest in new computer systems and network technologies to increase productivity and gain a competitive advantage. The rapid adoption of mobile and smart devices and cloud computing means more organizations will use the Internet to conduct business online, translating to increased job opportunities for network professionals who can help businesses securely wield these emerging technologies.

Helpful Links for Blog Readers:

• Find IT Training and Certification Prep
• Research and Compare IT Certifications
• Explore Information Technology Careers
• Browse and Apply to Local Tech Jobs
• Jobs You Can Get with IT Degrees

†The average ten-year growth rate for all occupations is 3% (bls.gov)

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook

ITCareerFinder analyzes key data points in technology, employment and livability to uncover the best cities for IT professionals to call home.

This page will be updated annually with the latest and greatest tech cities. Current year: 2023.

Many of the best computer jobs can now be accomplished remotely. This is a welcome change for many of us. For everyone else, choosing the right city to live, work and play in can be vital to happiness and success. This study merges key statistics on America's high-tech workforce with livability factors in over 150 cities to find the best places to live in - or relocate to - as an IT professional.

To determine the best cities for tech jobs, we analyzed key employment data like IT salaries, the number of jobs and the percentage of workforce in technical roles, as well as the leading indexes for cost of living and quality of life, because after all, once the 9-to-5 is over you still have to live there.

Jump down to the bottom of the page for the ranking methodology and source list, or read on for this year’s top 8 cities for IT professionals.

Here are the best cities for technology jobs and workers:

Discover the technical and soft skills to jumpstart your IT career in 2024.

Amid widespread technological advancements and shifts in organizational priorities, understanding the roles employers want to fill in the coming months (and beyond) is essential for career-minded IT professionals.

This post will highlight ten of the most sought-after IT skills for 2024. For each skill set, we’ll explore key demand drivers and identify some of the roles, platforms, and certifications you can pursue to capitalize on emerging trends.

Here are our top ten in-demand IT skills for 2024:

A guide to penetration testing certifications, including what they are, why they're valuable, and the best pen testing credentials for your cybersecurity career path.

This post will be updated annually with the top pen-testing certificates.

Penetration testing - a.k.a. “pentesting” - involves simulating attacks on networks and computer systems to identify vulnerabilities which can then be shored up by the cybersecurity team. Pen testing is a vital component of an organization’s information security strategy.

Pen testing certifications are professional credentials earned by IT security specialists who demonstrate a level of proficiency in this field. The leading pen-tester certificates are offered by various types of institutions, including cybersecurity industry associations, globally recognized certifying bodies, and technical training providers.

In this post, we will identify the best penetration testing certifications by experience level and specialization. For each certificate, we’ll highlight the key skills it covers, prerequisites, costs, benefits, training options, and more.

ITCareerFinder analyzes the latest technology trends and employment data to identify 10 IT skill sets that will boost your market value in 2023 (and beyond).

With more employers moving toward skills-based hiring and compensation models, acquiring new, in-demand skill sets is the key to remaining relevant and commanding higher pay in the coming year.

Assessments of recent job posting data confirm that skills, not degrees, are fast becoming the new currency of work.

For instance, the professional networking site LinkedIn has seen a 21% rise in job postings that advertise for skills and responsibilities rather than qualifications and requirements. Given the trend, there’s never been a better time to boost your abilities and your paycheck.

If you’re looking to advance your career by acquiring new technology skills in 2023, here are ten of the hottest areas you may want to consider and some of the best skills to learn in each:

Business and education leaders share tips and tricks for overcoming the challenges of distance learning and getting the most value from your online education.

For many of us, the global coronavirus pandemic has made in-person learning a temporary impossibility, but even with the promise of a vaccine, the shift toward learning online is likely to be a permanent trend.

Beyond its current expedience, there are many advantages to pursuing a training or degree program online, including the ability to study at your own pace and schedule, practicing self-motivation, gaining expertise in the increasingly valuable array of digital collaboration tools, and saving money versus traditional classroom programs.

However, online learning, be it in front of your computer or on a mobile device, presents numerous challenges, from the lack of interaction with fellow students, to potential struggles with motivation, concentration, and time management.

For a deeper look at the challenges of distance learning and how to conquer them, we asked industry experts in business, education and technology for their best tips and tricks for online learning. Here’s what they had to say.